Excitation of Structures Near Railway Tracks-Analysis of the Wave Propagation Path

High-speed rails are an attractive alternative to other forms of intercity transportation. It is a fast, cost-efficient and environmentally friendly solution, which is being developed in various countries across the world. However, in order to be successful, high-speed rails need to transport the passengers as close as possible to the city centers. Therefore, railway tracks have to go through densely populated urban areas, which causes a number of issues. One of the biggest complaints from the inhabitants living near such infrastructures is the high vibration and noise levels caused by the passing trains.

Unfortunately, the prediction of vibrations in nearby structures is difficult, as wave propagation from the vibration source to the structure is a complex phenomenon. The behaviour of the structure is highly dependent on the path along which the vibrations travel between their source and the building itself. Especially in the densely built urban environment, the wave propagation path can have different features, such as underground infrastructure, roads, pavements or even other nearby buildings. Such features might have a significant effect on the final excitation of the structure in question.

This work aims to analyse how different features in the wave propagation path affect the excitation of a structure. A numerical model is constructed to account for the track structure and the underlying soil. The model utilizes a finite-element model for the structures together with a semi-analytical model of the underlying soil. Different features in the wave-propagation path are introduced, and their effects are compared regarding the behaviour of the structure and the free-field.